Yahoo Finance Best foot forward: how Boris upped the game with his running attire
What a difference a few years makes. When Boris Johnson’s morning jog first hit headlines in 2017, the prime ministership was but a twinkle in his eye, Brexit looked straight forward and the dreaded phrase ‘Covid19’ meant nothing. Fast forward three years to 2020’s cavalcade of delights, and not only has the world changed dramatically but so too has Boris’s gait. There’s less of it, for starters, thanks to a diet prompted by his Coronavirus scare, but the shambolic running getup has shifted gear to something altogether sleek.
Boris Johnson has hired a personal trainer to help him get in shape, and in turn lead by example in his fight against obesity in a bid to ease pressure on the NHS - statistics have shown that the obese are more likely to contract the virus. And in pictures of him whizzing through St James’s Park, the PM looked slimmer and more appropriately dressed.
It isn’t exactly what Boris is wearing - a nondescript brown T-shirt and blue shorts - but what he isn’t - previous efforts have seen him attempt his 5k in a frankly astonishing tropical swim shorts, rugby polo, red beanie and...is that a fleece cardigan? It’s an ensemble that even Compo from Last of the Summer Wine would deem a step too far.
Of course, the main point is that he’s exercising, and while we’re huffing and puffing no-one generally gives a fig about their fashion credentials, but his more subdued approach does point to a changing attitude to athletic attire. We’re all being urged to take more care of our health, and for most of us in lockdown that one hour of exercise a day was a must for our mental wellbeing as well as our physical.
Huelva running T-shirt, £70, Castore
Which leads to question of what attire is best. A whole cottage industry of brands have sprung up to cater to the niche demands of different fitness endeavours; Lululemon mark themselves as yoga specialists while Castore specialise in running and tennis gear. We’re also entering a new age of exercise-as-commuting, to avoid packed trains and tubes, and that brings with it challenges over what to wear - there’s been a rise in suits designed for cycling, for example, and hybrid trainers that look smart enough for the office but can do the job of getting you from A-B.
You really do know the world has turned upside down when Boris Johnson manages to blend into the background on his daily constitutional.
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